Unlock potential. Create value. Transform communities.
 

Innovative affordable housing development for senior women, women-led families, and workforce women. Led by a team of professional women transforming a key site in the heart of Vancouver.

 

Soroptimist International of Vancouver engaged Purpose Driven to be the development lead on this innovative and ground-breaking new affordable housing project in Vancouver. Focused on closing the glaring gap in the housing needs of women in our city by providing affordable and long-term housing for senior women, women-led families, and workforce women, this project is a visionary example of affordable housing built to best meet the needs of women.

Women disproportionately face conditions and concerns that affect their ability to find safe, appropriate, and affordable housing including economic, political and social barriers. The predominance of gender-based violence that women face is a critical issue that significantly impacts the precariousness of inadequate housing, creating a critical priority to provide safe, adequate and affordable housing for women. With COVID-19 and the related increase in gender-based violence and resulting increased risk of homelessness for many women, this project is even more essential and provides a pivotal opportunity to safely house women and their children.

Soroptimist International of Vancouver is an organization dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls locally and internationally. Soroptimist, meaning “best of women” is a group of professional women at their best helping other women have the resources and opportunities to reach their full potential and live their dreams through programs, awards, and scholarships. They are expanding on their mandate through this new vision to create more affordable housing for women in Vancouver. Not only will this project support women through housing, but it will also improve the visibility of women leaders in development-related industries that are typically male-dominated.

This proposed development will be a thirteen storey building with a mix of unit sizes to support women at all stages of life. The building will include amenity spaces that will support the needs of women living in the building, including indoor and outdoor gathering spaces and a rooftop patio.  The process to advance this project will be a great example for other visionary projects for years to come.

 

highlights

  • Currently in construction - anticipated completion 2026

  • First women led, developed, and built women’s rental housing development in Canada

  • Unanimous support from City of Vancouver Council & Urban Design Panel

  • Transforming a key location in the Broadway Corridor with a legacy precedent setting housing project

  • Delivering 135 new homes ideally located within the Broadway Corridor and Hospital District

 
 
 

“Working with Carla and the team at Purpose Driven has been a very empowering experience. Not only are we collaborating on a precedent setting all woman team delivering an important project, but Carla’s leadership and management of the project is strong, inspiring and unique. She is setting the bar for a future of women-led projects in an industry where female leads are greatly underrepresented and needed.” 

  • - Amela Brudar

  • Principal, GBL Architects

“When we decided to redevelop 546 West 13th, it was important that we worked with a developer who understood the needs of women and what we are looking to achieve with this project.”

  • - Carla Busnardo

  • Chair, Redevelopment Commitee, Soroptimist International of Vancouver

 
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